Welcome to Worship

“Christmas Stories”
December 26, 2021

 Join us here for a live-stream beginning at 10:00am

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, BIRTHDAYS – Daniel Webster
 
PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki 
        
CALL TO WORSHIP – Daniel Webster
 
TIME WITH CHILDREN – “Emma’s Christmas,” an old song re-sung & pictured by Irene Trivas. Offered by Betsy Harris
 
INTERLUDE
 
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pam Smith
 
READING – “Some Children See Him,” by Alfred Burt. Offered by Heather Dewar     
 
The children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus’ face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
come worship now the infant King.
‘Tis love that’s born tonight!
 
SCRIPTURE READING, Luke 2:8-15 – Renée Andrews
 
STORY – Lois McNamara
 
HYMN – “Go Tell it On the Mountain”
Chorus:
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a Holy light

Chorus

The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth

Chorus

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us all salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

Chorus
 
STORY – Allison LeBaron
 
HYMN – “Jesus, Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child” (hymnal #136)
Jesus, Jesus, oh, what a wonderful child.
Jesus, Jesus, so holy, meek, and mild;
new life, new hope and the Child will bring. 
Listen to the angels sing. 
“Glory, glory, glory,’ let the heavens ring!
 
STORY – Todd Louis        
 
HYMN and OFFERING – “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” 
It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing

Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats, o’er all the weary world
Above its sad and lowly plain, they bend on hovering wing
And ever o’er its Babel sounds, the blessed angels sing

STORY – Lindsey Telg
 
HYMN – “Jesus Our Brother, Kind and Good” 
Jesus, our brother, strong and good,
was humbly born in a stable rude,
and the friendly beasts around him stood,
Jesus, our brother, strong and good.

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
“I carried your mother uphill and down,
I carried your mother to Bethlehem town;
I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high,
“I cooed you to sleep that you should not cry,
we cooed him to sleep, my love and i;
I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.   

Thus all the beasts, by some good spell,
in the stable dark were glad to tell
of the gifts they gave Emmanuel,
the gifts they gave Emmanuel.     
                               
BENEDICTION – Rebecca Beachy
 
“ALLELUIA”

Every December we receive donations for Ray Meeks, UCG member who was on death row for 42 years when his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Ray uses the money for personal items like clothing, toiletries, snacks, and the use of his tablet for email, music, and movies. There is a basket for contributions in the Foyer. Please include your name if you give cash. Ray likes to write thank you notes.